Random Friday Thoughts — July 28, 2023

Be careful out there as we head into the weekend. A major heat wave is underway across the country, including Illinois.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my random thoughts.

EGYPTIAN DOG OWNERS

It’s estimated Egyptians own more than three million dogs.

But, owing a dog in Egypt could get a lot harder and the cost of having one could become more expensive.

In May, the House of Representatives approved a bill that regulates owning dangerous dogs after a man died after being attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull earlier this year.

These dangerous dogs include Pitbulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Caucasian Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, Dobermans, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Danes, Akitas, and others.

On the other hand, only 10 breeds were exempt from the list: the Cocker Spaniel, Labradors, Poodles, Malinois, Pomeranians, Jack Russell terriers, Great Danes, White German Shepherds, Maltese, and Samoyeds.

As part of the registration process, pet owners must pay a fee of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,620 U.S.) to Egypt’s General Organization for Veterinary Services!!!

Yikes, I won’t complain about $15 a year for a rabies tag!

XANADU — SEVEN MONTHS OLD NOW

My crazy pug, Xanadu, is now seven months old and is up to a whopping 16 pounds. Her weight gain is slowing so I think she’s be around 20 pounds full grown.

While she’s so adorable, she’s a total brat.

She loves to snap leaves off my plants and then run under the dining room table wanting me to come after her.

It’s a game to her, but it ticks me off because I don’t want her eating leaves that may not be good for her. Time to buy some bitter, nasty spray for them!

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS IN A HEAT WAVE

As August approaches, Christmas is now less than five months. If you regularly read my blog, you know I love Christmas!

And, damn you Kim Kardashian, you’re not going to change that! Thankfully, you’ve given me a reason to skip the new season of “American Horror Story”. And, now, you and your family are recording a Christmas album? BAH HUMBUG!

On a brighter holiday note, there are two interesting albums I’m very excited about this holiday season that’ll likely have us dancin’ around the Christmas instead of rockin’.

A month ago, Cher hinted a Christmas album was coming and she had two songs left to record. Since she’s done dance, pop, and rock, the album could go in any direction.

However, since “Believe” is the biggest hit of her career and the #1 song of 1999, I’m going with a dance-oriented Christmas album.

Meanwhile, Terri Nunn says Berlin is working on a Christmas album, too!

Many of you know the 1980s new wave band for their Oscar-winning, #1 hit in 1986, “Take My Breath Away” from “Top Gun”. The band’s only other Top 40 hit in America was 1984’s “No More Words”, which hit #23.

While both are amazing songs, as a 18-year-old, I was mesmerized by their second album, “Pleasure Victim”, from the fall of 1982.

The synthesizer-heavy album included the iconic tracks “The Metro”, “Sex (I’m A…), and “Masquerade”.

“THE HANDMAID’S TALE”

I’m looking forward to the sixth and final season of the Emmy Award-winning Hulu series, “The Handmaid’s Tale”. But, with the writers and actors strike, it may not arrive until 2024 or 2025!

I wasn’t a big fan of season four, so I was hoping the series would end with season five. However, season five was incredible!

“THE HANDMAID’S TALE” (BOOK)

This summer, I finally read Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel that was very much ahead of its time. Just look at how women’s rights are being dictated by the government in 2023!

Had I read this book back in Reagan’s conservative America when it came out, I would’ve been blown away.

However, reading it after seeing the first five seasons of the television series, the book didn’t shock or surprise me.

“THE TESTAMENTS” (BOOK)

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Atwood’s long-awaited sequel, “The Testaments”, that came out in 2019.

I won’t say if June (played by Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss in the television series) plays a role in the sequel that takes place 15 years after the events of “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

But, a television spin-off is being prepped and Aunt Lydia plays a major role (played by Emmy winner Ann Dowd on television).

40 YEARS ALREADY!

Madonna’s self titled debut album was released 40 years ago this week.

The eight-song album produced her first three Top 40 hits: “Holiday” (#16), “Lucky Star” (#4) and “Borderline” (#10).

However, before the radio hits, she charted with two #3 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart

However, before the radio hits, she charted with two #3 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, “Everybody” and “Burning Up”.

Even after four decades of hits, “Borderline” is still my favorite Madonna song.

REMEMBERING SINEAD O’CONNOR

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passed away earlier this week at the age of 56.

In the music world, she was a “one-hit wonder”, but it was a huge one!

Her 1990 remake of “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince only took six weeks to reach #1 in the U.S. It stayed there for four weeks and it also topped the U.K. charts for four weeks.

“Billboard” magazine called it the “#1 world single” in 1990.

Years later, she’d mostly be known for ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II on “Saturday Night Live” in October 1992, speaking out about child sexual abuse in the Catholic church, and being vocal about her mental illness.

She told Oprah in October 2007 that she had been diagnosed as bipolar four years earlier and had also attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday in December 1999.

SHE SAID WHAT?

Since my blog started in 2012, I’d only written about O’Connor twice.

In October 2013, I shared quotes of her spat with Miley Cyrus over the “Wrecking Ball” video.

After O’Connor posted a two-page open letter about Cyrus being “pimped out” in the music business, Miley tweeted the “SNL” Pope incident with “Before there was Amanda Bynes.” 

O’Connor fired back at Cyrus:  “I mean really really… who advises you?  Have you any idea how stupid and dangerous it is to mock people for suffering illness? You will yourself one day suffer such illness, that is without doubt. The course you have set yourself upon can only end in that, trust me.”

O’Connor added that Cyrus was dangerous and irresponsible, “Have you no sense of danger at all? Or responsibility? Remove your tweets immediately or you will hear from my lawyers.  Mockery causes deaths. Period. It is an unacceptable form of bullying, no matter who it is doing the bullying.”

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST — SHE SAID WHAT?

Then in July 2015, I posted this Facebook rant from O’Connor about the “Rolling Stone” cover with Kim Kardashian (West, at the time):  “What is this c**t doing on the cover of Rolling Stone? Music has officially died.  Who knew it would be Rolling Stone that murdered it? Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh can no longer be expected to take all the blame. Bob Dylan must be f**king horrified. #BoycottRollingStone”

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — July 21, 2023

Thank you for taking time to check out what’s on my mind. As always, I appreciate hearing what you think, too. If we disagree, that’s fine. Just do it diplomatically!

NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID

“Thoughts and prayers for <insert city>”! We hear this many times — usually after a mass shooting here in the U.S.

However, those thoughts and prayers aren’t really going to ease the pain for parents and family members of those killed.

I saw this bumper sticker this week and it sums it all up!

JASON ALDEAN CONTROVERSY AND #1

Country singer Jason Aldean is at the center of a country music swirl of controversy.

In May, he released his new song, “Try That in a Small Town”.

In two months, it’s been slowly climbing the country radio airplay charts. On Mediabase this morning, it’s only at #27.

However, after CMT (Country Music Television) pulled the video from rotation this week, it’s now the #1 downloaded song in America.

Now, keep in mind, something very similar happened in early 2021.

When country singer Morgan Wallen spewed a racist slur (the n-word) in a drunken stupor and country radio (very briefly) stopped playing his music, people started downloading his songs as fast as they could and many of them charted on the download chart.

I have no desire to listen to Aldean’s song or watch the video (which are reported to have racist and pro-violence undertones).

Here’s how “Variety” magazine sums it up in an article.

For the record, I don’t own any Jason Aldean music, but I do like his 2006 hit “Amarillo Sky”.

YOU CAN’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ

Recently, I Googled my name and I guess I’m important enough to have my stats and life on a website.

Some statistics were right — where I work, where I’ve worked, my sister and mother’s name, etc.

However, it didn’t have anything about my married life or if I’m dating. I’m laughing because sadly there’s nothing to tell.

However, this part REALLY MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!

My sister asked me if I was holding out on her! 🙂

ON A LIGHTER, TASTIER NOTE

McDonald’s is adding a new limited-edition McFlurry next month and I’m definitely excited for it.

The fast food chain will be adding a Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry on August 9th.

It’ll be a combination of vanilla soft serve ice cream with crispy cereal mix and chocolate peanut butter cookie pieces.

Did you try the strawberry shortcake McFlurry they added in April?

“SUCCESSION”

I just finished binge watching the Emmy Award-winning HBO series “Succession” this past weekend.

When the Emmy nominations were announced last week, it picked up 27 for the final season with 14 of them in the acting categories! Over its four-year run, “Succession” picked up 75 Emmy nominations! Yes, it’s that good!

So, my thoughts… almost every one on the show was deplorable and many were totally unlikeable.

My favorite characters were Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) and his sister, Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook).

Roman is a loose cannon and would be a HR nightmare (“sexual harrassment”) in a real-world situation.

While he had many inappropriate comments that crossed many lines, the funniest scene was in season three — (spoiler) — when he accidently sent a d-pic to his father instead of to someone else sitting at the table.

I can’t believe how much I disliked their brother Kendall (“Succession” Emmy winner Jeremy Strong) by the end of the series.

My least favorite character of all was Tom Wambsgans (“Succession” Emmy winner Matthew Macfadyen).

The character I grew to love because of his goofiness (and sexiness at 6’7″) was Greg (Nicholas Braun).

There were many incredible scenes in the four years, but my three favorites were in season four. I won’t give any context to avoid spoilers: Shiv and Tom “clearing the air” on the balcony…

… the showdown between siblings Kendall, Roman, and Shiv, when she was wavering on whether to vote “no” in the final minutes of the series, and when Greg slaps Tom across the face in the bathroom!

GRADE: A-

“MANHUNTER”

Brian Cox was great as the gruff, threatening patriarch Logan Roy in “Succession”. And, because of that I forgive him for his Hannibal Lecter in 1986’s “Manhunter”.

Okay, let’s put this into perspective. I just watched the thriller this year.

It’s based on Thomas Harris’ 1981 book, “Red Dragon”, which kicked off the Hannibal Lecter/’The Silence of the Lambs” series.

If I had watched “Manhunter” before the Oscar winning “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), I might not have thought the movie was so jokey.

William Petersen (“CSI”) was sexy and great as Will Graham, but he’s no Hugh Dancy (NBC’s “Hannibal”).

However, after seeing Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins in three Hannibal Lecter movies, watching a much younger, award winning Cox as Hannibal was like watching a community theater production of “Red Dragon”!

2023 GRADE: C-

WHAM! DOCUMENTARY

I really enjoyed the new Wham! documentary on Netflix. This was a very entertaining 90-minute look at the duo.

It’s crazy that while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley starting playing music together in high school, Wham was only a worldwide phenomenon for only four years (1982-1986)!

While it wasn’t a George Michael documentary, I wish it spent a few minutes to cover George and Andrew’s post-Wham lives.

George’s was covered in a graphic or two at the end telling how many albums he sold in his solo career!

GRADE: B+

EMMY NOMINATIONS AFTERTHOUGHT

“Welcome To Chippendales” picked up five Emmy nominations, four in the acting categories. This is no shock to me.

Here’s what I said in February when I recommended the series: “Who knew the world behind the Chippendales was so sordid and dangerous! When Emmy nominations are announced this summer, I expect this Hulu series to grab several. Kumail Nanjiani (superb in “The Big Sick”) should easily get a Best Actor nomination and one should go to Murray Bartlett (Emmy winner for season one of “The White Lotus”) in the Supporting Actor category. It was great seeing the always amazing Tony Award-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford (Paula Jones in “Impeachment: American Crime Story”). And, Juliette Lewis (Peacock’s “Queer As Folk”) was as kooky and great as ever.”

GRADE: A

“THE WHITE LOTUS”

The second season garnered 23 Emmy nominations. Of those, nine were in the acting categories.

What’s funny is that in the “Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series”, there were eight nominations — four were from “The White Lotus” and the other four were from “Succession”.

In the “Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series”, five of the eight nominees were from “The White Lotus”.

In February, here’s what I said (and by the way, all four that I mentioned were nominated): “While I enjoyed the first season, I absolutely loved the second season, which was set in Italy. The scenery was gorgeous and so was the cast. Last week, I shared an image of Theo James and Aubrey Plaza. Both were great, but it was English actor Will Sharpe (as Ethan) that had me mesmerized. Jennifer Coolidge won an Emmy for the first season and she returns for season two. In the first season, her rich, lonely character Tanya McQuoid was so annoying. She was so much more likeable in season two! I see a second Emmy coming her way this year.”

GRADE: A

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — July 14, 2023

Where does time go? July is already half over! Thank you for taking time to check out what’s on my mind this week.

HUH? YOUR KID CAN’T DO WHAT?

An Australian mom is upset with her child’s school!

Ashlee Griffiths says a teacher’s aide refused to unwrap her 5-year-old son’s snack cake because it was “unhealthy”.

The comedy and lifestyle TikToker says she speaking out to denounce diet culture and “take away the stigma around good verses bad foods”.

However, the big question for me: A five-year-old can’t open a cellophane wrapper himself? Who knows, maybe Australian snacks are hard to break into like Fort Knox?

MUST TRY THIS!

Guess I’m going to have to make a special trip to Walmart. Snickers is introducing a new candy bar — butterscotch!

It’s limited edition, so if this sounds delicious to you, too, we’d better hurry!

“THE BEAR” SEASON 2

I just watched the second season of the Emmy-nominated Hulu series “The Bear” and it was phenomenal!

While the main cast was fantastic just as in season one, there were so many great guest star appearances (Oscar winners Jamie Lee Curtis and Olivia Colman, Emmy winner Sarah Paulson, and Emmy nominees Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter).

I loved the episodes “Forks” (showcasing Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie), the season finale, “The Bear”, and “Fishes”, the hour-long Christmas episode.

While this years’ Emmy nominations were announced earlier this week, just go ahead and give Jamie Lee Curtis an Emmy for next year.

Her performance as Donna Berzatto, the mother of the Berzatto siblings, was so heartbreaking and real.

Also, the episode “Sundae” when Sydney visits many Chicago restaurants to sample their dishes renews my desire to fulfil the #2 item on my “bucket list” — to dine at Grant Achatz’s Alinea in Chicago!

By the way, season one earned 13 Emmy nominations earlier this week including acting noms for Jeremy Allen White (Carmy), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney), Moss-Bachrach (Richie), Jon Bernthal (Mikey Berzatto), and Oliver Platt (Uncle Jimmy).

GRADE: A-

KYLIE IS READY TO TAKE ON AMERICA!

It’s no secret — you know I love Kylie Minogue and I can’t wait to finally see her in concert.

What’s crazy is that she’s a Grammy Award winner (2004’s “Come Into My World” won Best Dance Recording) and a five-time Grammy nominee.

She’s a huge international star on the level of Madonna — except in the U.S., where it’s said, she has “cult status”! What, I’m in a cult? 🙂

Worldwide, she’s sold more than 80 million records and is the biggest-selling female Australian artist of all time. In the U.K., she’s had 52 Top 40 hits, 35 of them have hit the Top Ten, and 7 have topped the charts!

Totally baffling is that in the U.S., she’s only had five Top 40 hits since her first in 1987, “I Should Be So Lucky” (#28).

Here, she’s known for the #3 1988 hit “The Loco-Motion” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” in 2001. It reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, but #1 in 40 countries around the world!

That’s all about to change as “Padam Padam”, the lead single from her upcoming “Tension” album (September 22nd), is finally getting American and Canadian airplay and will likely become a hit at Top 40 radio.

MADONNA HEALTH SCARE POSTPONES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Madonna’s “The Celebration Tour”, featuring the biggest hits of her amazing 40-year career, was to kick off this weekend in British Columbia for 57 dates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

However, on June 24th, she developed a serious bacterial infection and spent several days in the ICU. Madonna is now out of the hospital and is feeling better, but the North America tour is postponed.

The tour will now kick off October 14th in London, England, with four shows. It’ll then make its way across Europe and end on December 6th in London for a total of 27 European dates.

As of now, no word on when the North American dates will be rescheduled.

EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A MADONNA FAN…. I WANT YOUR OPINION ON THE VIDEO BELOW First, the back story…

WHEN FEARLESS MADONNA BACKED DOWN

As a Madonna fan for 40 years, my favorite song is still “Borderline” from her 1983 self-titled debut album.

I finally bought “Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones”, a compilation of all of her #1 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Song chart.

It’s incredible — the remixes and the remastered tracks sound amazing! However, “Borderline” isn’t featured since it only reached #4 on the Dance chart.

But, that’s not what the reason I’m talking about Madonna today.

Unfortunately, most of the press she’s gotten over the past year or so hasn’t been good.

Some of it is ageist blasting the 64-year-old for being too provocative. (Hello… Bitch, She’s Madonna!) Some of it she’s brought upon herself and it’s justified. Even as a huge fan, lately I’ve shaken my head more often than not.

She’s never been one to back down from controversy. In 1990, during the “Blonde Ambition” Tour”, Toronto (Ontario, Canada) authorities threatened to arrest her during the simulated masturbation performance of “Like A Virgin”. All three shows went on, she did her thing, and she was NOT fined or arrested.

However, in early 2003, she did back down from a controversy. And, I fully believe it would’ve ended her career if she hadn’t!!!

In February of that year, she shot a very graphic, antiwar video for the first single, the title track to her upcoming ninth studio album, “American Life”.

“AMERICAN LIFE” NOW — 20 YEARS LATER

At the time, we never saw it. We got a lame version.

On April 1, 2003, Madonna pulled the video because of the political climate in the U.S..

She said, “I’ve decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video.”

This spring, on the 20th anniversary of the “American Life” album, the “director’s cut” of the original video was released. And, boy is it compelling and honest, in light of what we now know about Bush’s war — the Iraqi invasion of 2003!!!

Even if you’re not a Madonna fan, watch them and tell me what you think.

Do you think this would have ended her career in 2003?

GRADE: A

“AMERICAN LIFE” THEN

Here is the video Madonna released instead. It’s no surprised the song bombed with this lame, sterile video!

Oh, that “rap” in the song was laughable then and especially twenty years later!

Sorry, Madonna!

GRADE: C-

Your thoughts on the two videos?

“JACQUELINE BOUVIER KENNEDY ONASSIS: A LIFE”

Donald Spoto’s 2000 biography was compelling and very comprehensive.

As much as I’ve read about the Kennedys, I learned even more with this book, like…

Jackie and Jack Kennedy had opposite taste, “Jackie like French antiques, velvets and silk, high art, classical music and great literature, pate de fois gras with a good Bordeaux and dinner parties for four or six, maximum. Jack, on the other hand, was a lounge-chair or rocker type of man whose preferences ran to pop songs, Irish airs, boiled beef and beer with a large crowd of boisterous buddies”.

Just two years into their marriage, Jackie expressed to her father-in-law, Joseph Kennedy, her unhappiness. He offered her $1 million in trust funds not to divorce JFK! (That’d be $11 million today.) By the way, she didn’t take it.

By 1961, Washington correspondent Gwen Gibson summarized the Kennedy marriage as “a partnership, an arrangement for their mutual benefit. Later they became closer, but that happened so near to the end.” This sounds very much like what is said about President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

Another thing that Jackie and Hillary had in common is that both President Kennedy and President Clinton turned to their wives for advice even though they didn’t advise the president’s staffs.

I have several things in common with Jackie — one is planning for Christmas in July!

The press declared Jackie “a new kind of First Lady”. And, why wouldn’t they? Since Jackie followed first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, and Mamie Eisenhower, Truman’s daughter, Margaret Truman, stated, “Jackie was new in capital letters.”

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — July 7, 2023

Hopefully, you had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July.

For many of us across Illinois, it was one of cleaning up from damaging winds and tornadoes that left at least 107,000 Ameren Illinois customers without power. Even at midweek, there were still a thousand or so in the dark.

Thus, I wasn’t able to post my thoughts last Friday, so here goes….

FINAL SUBMERSIVE THOUGHT

This follows up from my last blog. While I’m sad for the families of those onboard the Titan submersible that imploded killing the five men on board, I just can’t get past how reckless the whole adventure was going into it.

It’s been reported that four of the men paid about $250,000 a person for the adventure, that’s a million dollars!

Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, migrants are paying almost every penny they have to unsafely cross the Sea for a better life knowing they could die.

This sums it up!

BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY WON’T GO AWAY

I honestly want to stop talking about the silliness that is the Bud Light controversy.

I don’t drink beer, so it affects mostly those that hate trans people and want to be on the wrong side of history.

Country icon and legend Garth Brooks is opening a restaurant in Nashville called “Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk”.

He says, “I want it to be a place you feel safe in, I want it to be a place where you feel like there are manners and people like one another.” He went on to say, “If you [are let] into this house, love one another. If you’re an asshole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway.” Oh, and it’ll serve “every brand of beer”.

Of course that prompted the ire of right wing commenters and the very intelligent Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. (Sarcasm!)

But, the biggest fool of all is Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

He tweeted a FAKE article about Brooks being booed off the stage in the Lone Star state and thanked Texans for being jerks!

He has since deleted the tweet.

Clearly, I’d chose Brooks’ “friends in low places” over Abbott’s friends!

Good Lord, I’m still laughing about it!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

While he’s at home with end-of-life hospice and she’s suffering from dementia, my idol former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter are celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary (July 7).

They are the longest-wed presidential couple.

MY FAVORITE FOURTH OF JULY

My favorite Independence Day is, without a doubt, probably one of your favorites, too.

Back in 1976, the United States was celebrating its 200th birthday, its bicentennial.

As a kid, I was mesmerized with the sight of more than a dozen tall ships and tens of thousands of boats filling New York Harbor.

On my transistor radio, “Fernando” by ABBA was playing.  It’s hard to believe that just one month later, the band would release the iconic “Dancing Queen”!

MY LEAST FAVORITE FOURTH OF JULY

On the other hand, none compare to the 4th of July in 2007 for the worst!

I was working the morning show and on my drive in, it started pouring rain. In the three minute drive to the station, it was coming down in buckets.

As I was running toward the door, my keys flew out of my hands and went underwater in a puddle.  I got to the door and banged and banged, but no one heard it! It was 1:45 a.m. (I didn’t have a cell phone at the time!)

So, I dug through my bag and found my spare car keys.  I drove to the other side of the building and, this time, one of the producers heard me knocking and opened the door.

Since I was soaked, I decided to go back home and change into a dry suit.

As torrential rains continued falling, a wall of water came crashing into the intersection. Without warning, in just seconds (real-time seconds), my car stalled and died as the water quickly came up to the door.  At the same time, three other cars met the same fate as mine.

I quickly thought about the power doors and windows and opened my door! If there was a shortage, I would be locked inside!

Three intoxicated teenagers came running through the water and helped me push my car into an alley.

Soaking wet, I walked fifteen blocks to my house bare-footed in a ruined suit.

I ended up with three large blisters on the soles of my feet. Luckily, I didn’t step on anything sharp, which would have allowed bacteria from the nasty floodwaters to make me sick!

By the way, I made it back in time to get my weather graphics done and was on the air at 5 a.m.!

As a meteorologist, I’ve never encountered the force of raging water and now I know first hand just where “flash flooding” gets its name. 

It just two or three seconds, the water came out of nowhere and submerged the cars!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Remember, it only takes about six inches of flowing water to sweep a person off their feet, a foot of moving water to make a car buoyant, and only two feet of raging water to sweep a car away!

SUMMER AND TICKS

Now that summer is here, mosquitos are a pest and ticks are lurking.

There are some amazing smelling herbs and plants you can put in your yard to create a barrier between wooded areas and your home that keep ticks away.

Mint, sage, lavender, rosemary, garlic, and marigolds have tick-repellent properties, with fragrances, textures and oils that ticks can’t tolerate.

“GEORGE MICHAEL: A LIFE”

This 2022 biography by James Gavin was very honest and very enlightening. A must read!

It covers all of the demons George battled in life — from his childhood (overweight and insecure) to early adulthood (worldwide fame and drugs) to later in life (fame, avoiding the spotlight of fame, drugs, and weight gain). Oh, and that arrest in the Los Angeles park bathroom!

George died on Christmas Day 2016 and eerily, his sister, Melanie Panayiotou, also died on Christmas Day three years later.

WHAM! (THE DOCUMENTARY)

I can’t wait to check out the “Wham!” documentary that debuted on Netflix earlier this week.

“WHEN WE RISE: MY LIFE IN THE MOVEMENT”

Pride month is over, but I still want to share some details from LGBTQ pioneer Cleve Jones’ 2016 autobiography.

He came up with the idea of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1985 at a Harvey Milk memorial service.

Jones also fought against Anita Bryant’s “Save our Children” campaign in Florida (1977) and John Briggs’ California Proposition 6, better known as the “Briggs Initiative” (1978), which would have banned gays and lesbians (and their allies) to work in the California school system.

After his historical election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in November 1977, his friend, the legendary Harvey Milk, told Jones, “Even if we lose, having the debate moves us forward, just by requiring people to think about the issue. The more they think about it, the more progress we make. And we have to get everyone to come out of their closet.” Milk smiled and added, “If we all come out, we will win. Once people understand that they have gay friends and family members and coworkers and neighbors, they won’t fear us, they won’t hate us, and they won’t vote against us. That’s how we win. Everyone must come out.”

And, I loved the story that Jones told about his sadness after finding his lover in bed with another man. When he told Harvey, Milk told the young Jones (in his early 20s) that later in life he’d realize who was and who was not the great loves in life. He said that Harvey was right.

MY FAVORITE GEORGE MICHAEL (WHAM) SONGS

There are many to choose from, so “Monkey”, “Too Funky”, and “Freedom 90” missed out.

“WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO” (Wham!) (3 weeks at #1, 1984)

“I’M YOUR MAN” (Wham!) (#3, 1986)

“I WANT YOUR SEX” (#2, 1987)

“FAITH (4 weeks at #1, 1987)

“I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING (FOR ME) with Aretha Franklin (#1, 1987)

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony